The Rangers complete their four-game homestand today against the Kings. New York is a disappointing 1-2 in the first three games, falling 5-3 to Dallas and 3-2 Buffalo bookending a 5-3 win over Toronto. Over the last 14 games, the Blueshirts are 7-7, showing the consistent, inconsistency that has unfortunately been the hallmark of their 2019-20 season. Following the game against LA, New York plays the next three (Winnipeg, Minnesota and Columbus) and five of the next six on the road.
A few thoughts: 1) New York lost Friday to a Buffalo team that allowed the Rangers to beat themselves by just sitting back, clogging the neutral zone, and waiting for the Blueshirts to make their mistakes. When teams clog the middle and don’t let the Rangers run in transition, they struggle to generate any even-strength offense, which has been an issue for weeks. This is similar to how the Islanders play, but the Rangers won two of the three contests between the two squads by not falling prey to getting frustrated and making mistakes. What's disconcerting is that the team knew what not to do and yet they still did it.
“There were too many times when we were trying to make plays east-west when we should be playing pucks in behind and trying to get it ourselves,… Chris Kreider said. “I was the leading culprit of that, especially early. That’s not a ‘sometimes’ thing, that’s an ‘all the time’ thing.…
The term maddening comes to mind. You know how the team playing you, will play. You know if you fall victim to that style of play, you will make mistakes and likely lose. So what do you do? Right, make stupid mistakes and lost, but it's great that they recognized they did so. Unfortunately, that happened when it was too little too late.
2) Kaapo Kakko started the game on the fourth line - as coach David Quinn was sending a message. But Kaako forced Quinn's hand with a solid end of the second period, resulting in him landing on the second line with Ryan Strome and Jesper Fast before being used as one of the six on the ice late when New York tried to rally to tie the contest. Kakko earned that additional ice time, showing the level of talent that made him the second overall pick in this past year's draft.
As Larry Brooks noted, Kakko entered the match with one point, an assist, in the past 12 games, one goal and eight assists in 32 contests since Nov. 20, and seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points in 48 games for the season. Not where he or the Rangers want or expected him to be. But also not shocking for an 18-year old, even though we have been spoiled the past few seasons in the NHL with rookies coming in an dominating.
Chris Kreider had several quotes in Brooks' column on Kakko. To me, this was the most telling. “His skill set is insane. He’s learning. He’s getting better. I wouldn’t worry at all about him.… We just have to keep telling ourselves that.
3) Even though Zib had a goal and assist as did Kreider, Quinn called out the big boys for their lack of a dominant effort Friday. Hard to argue, as the team didn't wake up until late in the game. One name on the list that also struggled a bit - as he had a bit recently - was Artemi Panarin.
As Brooks noted, Panarin has four points (1-3) over his past five games, including a lovely backhand feed that set up Mika Zibanejad for the Blueshirts’ first goal in Friday’s 3-2 loss to Buffalo. Of course, No. 10 had recorded 23 points (6-17) in time immediately preceding 10 contests in relentlessly diving the team and propelling himself into the conversation for the Hart Trophy.
“Sometimes I feel that I am watched more closely and sometimes I don’t,… Panarin told The Post following Saturday’s practice, in advance of Sunday’s match at the Garden against the Kings. “I don’t want to say that there is a big difference in the way I am playing, I think I’m still making good plays.… Panarin, who has been dominant this season, has hit a brief rough patch with one goal in his last seven games. When he fails to score, especially at even strength, the whole seems to struggle, reflecting his dominance.
Coach David Quinn has kept Panarin with Ryan Strome, who has just one goal - along with six assists - in his last 15 games. He used Panarin with Filip Chytil briefly against Toronto. In addition, Panarin was on with Zib as one of the six late in the game Friday and were on the same line for a stretch as well. If the team continues to slump 5v5, the KZB could be broken up again with Panarin paired with Zib. If not, place Chytil and Kakko with Panarin and have Strome center Lemieux joined by either Howden or Fast.
4) The goaltending wheel spins back to Igor Shesterkin, as I said Friday was likely to occur. Alexandar Georgiev didn't play badly, stopped 25 shots in his first start since January 21. But the team clearly has a different vibe lately when Shesterkin is between the pipes.
The three-headed goalie monster isn't changing any time soon. Henrik Lundqvist is highly unlikely to be going anywhere by the trade deadline. The same is probable for Georgiev and we all know Igor is pretty much here to stay. So managing the personalities and trying to keep each one sharp when they don't play is a major task for Quinn and goaltending coach Benoit Allaire.
5) Likely lines Sunday: Kreider - Mika - Buchnevich Panarin - Strome - Fast Di Giuseppe - Chytil - Kakko Howden - McKegg - Lemieux
Di Giueppe has earned his additional ice time. But I would like to see Lemiuex with Chytil and Kakko. In addition, it may be time to move Kakko up to the second line with the team struggling 5v5. Mika and Panarin saw time together late Friday, look for that again Sunday if need be.
If New York can't find a way to beat an LA team that lost 3-0 on Saturday to NJ, then the team may have bigger issues than we thought and trading some players without the next two weeks will be more paramount than thoughts of the playoffs. Expect the Kings to utilize the same style as the Sabres, a form of neutral zone trap. The Rangers need to use a lunch pail mentality of dumping and chasing the puck, using a strong forecheck to create turnovers and capitalizing when they do.
6) Prospect news:
Jones finished tonight's game with three assists, establishing a single-game collegiate career-high. Jones is tied for third among NCAA freshmen defensemen in assists (15) and ranks fourth among NCAA freshmen defensemen in points (18) this season. #NYR https://t.co/YjYVnwJfUF
— NYR Stats & Info (@NYRStatsInfo) February 9, 2020
Keane is tied for sixth among AHL defensemen (and leads AHL rookie defensemen) in goals this season. He also ranks fourth among AHL rookie defensemen in points in 2019-20. #NYR https://t.co/EjAH7RBRJT
— NYR Stats & Info (@NYRStatsInfo) February 9, 2020
Barron registered his second goal of the game (and 11th of the season) in the second period of tonight's game. He has posted a multi-goal game for the third time this season. #NYR https://t.co/kruUoL1g66
— NYR Stats & Info (@NYRStatsInfo) February 9, 2020